Celebrations as Lostock Hall Library reopens

Lancashire County Council's flagship programme to reopen libraries which closed over a year ago marked a major milestone today as Lostock Hall Library became the tenth to reopen.

The library on Watkin Lane was reopened this morning (Monday 12 February) by County Councillor Jim Marsh, who represents the area, and County Councillor Michael Green, cabinet member for economic development, environment and planning.

Following the closure of 26 of the county's 73 libraries by Lancashire County Council towards the end of 2016, a new administration was elected in May 2017, and has decided to re-open as many libraries as possible.

Plans have been agreed for the phased reopening of libraries, and Lostock Hall is the latest to reopen following the reopening of Silverdale library, Parbold library, Burnley Campus Library, Bolton-le-Sands Library, and Fulwood Library in late 2017, and Freckleton Library, Oswaldtwistle Library, Barrowford Library and Whalley Library in January 2018.

Thornton Library is also due to reopen later in February.

Each library reopening has been marked with a different theme to highlight the breadth of services which libraries offer. Today's theme encouraged parents to discover the joy of reading with their children from birth and beyond.

County Councillor Jim Marsh said: "One of the reasons that people value their local library so highly is because it's within easy reach, offering access to vital information and services without the need to travel elsewhere.

"This is particularly important for people with limited mobility, anyone who doesn't have internet access at home, or for busy families who use their local library to research children's homework.

"People in Lostock Hall have been really looking forward to getting their library back, and I'm very pleased to be reopening it today."

County Councillor Michael Green, cabinet member for economic development, environment and planning, said: "In an age when access to information is so important to people's daily lives, local libraries are a really vital service. They also perform an important social role, being a place where people of all ages can meet, share interests, and find out about local events.

"Today's event highlighted the benefits of reading throughout your life, and particularly why parents and children reading together can be so important to a child's development. Modern libraries offer so many different things, but being able to access all kinds of interesting books is still the reason why most people visit them.

"We're committed to reopening libraries and today marks a real milestone in our programme of reopening libraries across Lancashire, being the tenth to reopen."

Lancashire County Council's cabinet has so far made decisions to reopen 13 libraries, and agreed to transfer the ownership of a further seven libraries to local organisations which will operate them as independent community-run libraries. The county council is continuing work towards reopening libraries in all of the areas where libraries were closed.